Worried by incessant
land skirmishes in some parts of the State, the Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, recently inaugurated a 9-man panel of inquiry with the mandate to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of such crises and restore peace to the effected communities.
The warring communities are Nko and Mkpani in Yakurr Local Government Area and Iyamitete, Ababene and Oyadama in Obubra Local Government Area.
Immediate past Deputy Governor of the State, Barr. Effiok Cobham, is the Chairman of the panel, the former Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Mike Aniah as Secretary while the State Security Adviser, Mr. Jude Ngaji, Chairman, Traditional Rulers’ Council Chief Igbaji Monkom, Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong, Rev (Mrs.) Grace Ekanem as well as the representatives of the Nigerian Police and State Security Services are members.
Speaking at the ceremony held at the state Executive Council Chambers, Calabar, Governor Ayade charged members of the panel whom he said were chosen on the basis of their integrity, character and history in public service to be fair and upright in the discharge of their duties with a view to finding lasting solutions to the warring communities and foster peaceful coexistence.
“It is at this point that history and indeed destiny has beckoned on you to come and save us from the challenges and crisis of our people. We therefore inaugurate you with a full charge because this is not a job that will require you to sit in the office. It is a job that will require you to be in the field so as to understand truly the cause of the problem.
The recurrent decimal is leading to loss of lives, loss of investors’ confidence in our State, and changing the impression they have about the people of Cross River State. I urge you to take this responsibility as a service bestowed on you by God to go and stop our brothers from worrying.
“There is no amount of infrastructure, economic development, prosperity that is equivalent to the blood of the people of Cross River State. Therefore, we shall put your responsibility, your duties and your job in this committee far above every other consideration in the State.”
Responding, Chairman of the panel, Barr. Effiok Cobham thanked Prof Ben Ayade for reacting promptly to what he described as unacceptable scenario in recent past in some part of the state and promised that the committee would do its utmost best to achieve its mandate.
Friday Nwagbara, Calabar